Packers overcome Holy Family’s size to advance
Published 9:21 pm Thursday, March 13, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS — It was clear from the starting lineups that Packers were going to be undersized in their Class AAA semifinal boys basketball game against Holy Family Friday Catholic, but the Packers weren’t too worried about it as they cruised to a 70-42 win.
Austin’s Jacob Kempen contends for the loose ball with Holy Family’s Colton Stenerson during the first half of their Class AAA semifinal matchup of the Minnesota State Boys Basketball Tournament at Target Center. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Despite Holy Family having starters at 6-11, 6-7, 6-6 6-4, and 6-2. The Packers didn’t have a player taller than 6-4.
Still, Austin made up for that lack of size by gaining a 29-27 rebounding advantage in the win.
“We just wanted to come out harder than we did yesterday. Yesterday we didn’t really play our game and we wanted to come out fast today. We showed them that size doesn’t matter,” Austin’s Gach Gach said. “Curt [Oberbroeckling] helped me out a lot. Curt does things nobody sees. He knows his role and he does it really well.”
Holy Family had an offensive rebound to set up a 3-pointer on the first possession of the game, but it was all Packers after that.
“Gach and Curt came out and boxed out well. We got boards, we ran out and we got some quick, easy buckets,” Austin guard Zach Wessels said.